Cutter.



K. STIEGELMAYER.

CUTTER, APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, I917.

Patentedsg n 18,1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KARL STIEGELMAYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CUTTER.

Application fiIed March 24, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL STIEGELMAYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cutters and has for its primary object the provision of an improved device whereby the ends of reeds of musical instruments may be accurately trimmed at right angles to the axes of the reeds.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a reed carriage which shall be adjustable with respect to a knife and cutter block, in order that my device may be adjustable to reeds of varying lengths.

A further object of my invention is the provision in combination with a movable blade and an arm therefor, of clamping means adjacent the blade and borne by the arm for clamping the tip of the reed during the cutting operation.

A further object of my invention is the provision of such an arrangement of the parts hereinafter to be described as will enable them to be contained in an extremely compact unit.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation of my invention showing the same closed in full lines, and with a scraper carried thereby in open position in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my invention with the power lever thereof in open position and partly broken away and with the head of the blade carrier shown in section; in this view also afragment of the center of the frame is broken away to disclose parts within;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of my invention with the power lever sectioned away to disclose parts below;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 2, illustrating in dotted lines a reed being out and the relative positions of the blade carrier and power lever during the cutting operation;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 191 *7.

Serial No. 157,107.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Reference numerals 10 and 11 indicate the side plates of the frame approximating in form the frame of an ordinary pocket knife. The side plates are clamped on opposite sides of center piece 12 by three rivets 13, 14 and 15. Mounted in a suitable channel for sliding movement longitudinally in the frame is a reed carriage 16, provided at its rear end with a post 17, protruding from the back of which is a threaded rod 18 which slidably engages spaced bearings 19 formed at the rear end of the frame. Upon the rod 18 is threaded a knurled nut 21 positioned between the bearings 19. By rotation of the nut 21 the carrier 16 is made to I slide longitudinally of the frame to compensate for variations in lengths of the reeds to be trimmed. In the particular embodiment illustrated in the drawings my device is adapted for the trimming of oboe reeds which normally comprise a pair of reeds: 22 and 23 bound together, as at 24, and secured to a cylindrical staple 25 (see Fig. 4;). Pivoted to the post 17 of the carriage 16 is the staple holder 26 comprising a V-shaped piece of spring steel, one of the legs of which embraces a pivot 27 channeled in post 17.

At its forward end the carriage 16 supports a clip 28 comprising two resilient metal arms adapted to receive the medial portion of the oboe reed, and, in conjunction with the holder 26, which enters the cylindrical staple, to accurately aline the reed to be trimmed with the blade and cutter block to be described. The longitudinal axis of the holder 26 is midway between the leaves of the clip 28. At its forward end the carriage 16 is provided with a forwardly protruding extension 29 which is over-lapped by a finger 31 secured in the frame by a set screw 32. The projection 29 and finger 31 serve to retain the forward end of the carriage within the frame, while the rear end of the carriage is prevented from dropping out of the frame by engagement between the threaded rod 18 and the bearings 19. Pivoted upon the rivet 14: is a blade arm 33 comprising preferably two wires 34 and 35, which form .a stirrup with the arm proper 33 and at the ends opposite from the arm'are bent about the rivet. The wires 34 and 35 lie on opposite sides of the axis of the holder 26. and the arm 33 supports a blade 36 exactly at right angles to the axis of the holder. A set screw 37 secures the blade to the arm 33 and also secures to the arm a spring clamp 38 which projects backwardly of the blade and is bent forwardly again with its forward edge juxtaposed to the blade and normally standing slightly below the cutting edge thereof, as seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. An undercut tongue 39 protrudes above the upper surface of the frame-and engages a dovetailed groove formed in the bottom of a cutter block 41, the tongue extending longitudinally of the frame and permitting sliding movement of the cutter block while retaining it upon the frame. The cutter block may be positioned rearwardly of the spring 38 for the purpose of folding my invention into compact form, as shown in Fig. 1 for eXam ple, or it may be positioned directly in the path of the descending blade 36 and spring 38, as in Fig. 4, for the purpose of receiving the thrust of the blade.

At the forward end of the frame a power lever 42 is' pivoted upon the rivet 13 and is provided with a cam surface 43 which, when the blade 36 is in position to trim the reed, as in Fig. 4, engages the upper forward rounded e lge 44 of arm 33. By placing the fingers below the rearward end of the frame and the base of the thumb upon the free end of the lever 42, the operator may apply great power upon the blade 36 with comparative ease by reason of the length of the lever and the contiguity of the fulcrum 13 and the point of engagement between cam 43 and surface 44.

Within the free end of the lever 42 (which is hollowed out for the purpose) is riveted a U-shaped resilient catch 45. In the closed position of my device (Figs. 1 and 5) the catch 45 embraces the nut 21 and retains the free end of the lever from swinging outwardly of the frame. The shapes of the lever 42 and the holder 26 and arm 33 are such that in the closed position of my invention the lever substantially covers the holder and arm and prevents their swinging outwardly of the frame. The longitudinal slide of cutter block 41 enables it to be moved rearwardly of the spring 38, as in Fig. 1, and permits descent of arm 33 and closing of lever 42.

In the operation of my invention the hollow staple 25 of the oboe reed is positioned upon holder 26, the shape and resilient character of the holder operating against the inner wall of the staple to retain the base of the staple in fixed position longitudinally of the holder. Considering the parts as in full line position. in Fig. 4, the reed and holder are swung downwardly about the pivot 27 until the shank 24 of the reed is clipped between the tines of the clip 28. The whole reed is now alined with the axis of holder 26 and the axis of the reed is positioned accurately at right angles to the blade 36, the frayed end of the bamboo pieces 22 and 23, which comprise the sounding elements of the reed, lying upon the upper surface of cutter block 41. Should the reed be somewhat shorter or longer than usual, rotation of nut 21 will move the whole reed longitudinally of the frame to position the frayed ends accurately beneath the blade 36. The arm 33 carrying the blade and spring clamp is now rotated from full line to dotted line position in Fig. 4 and power lever 42 is moved from full line to dotted line position, with cam surface 43 engaging the rounded edge 44 of the arm. The operator now grasps the frame and lever in his hand and presses the lever toward the frame. The first result of this action is to bring the tips of the elements 22 and 23 together by pressure of the clamp 38, this pressure of the clamp acting also to prevent the slightest movement of the tips with respect to the cutter block 41. Further application of pressure to the lever causes the blade 36 to shear off the frayed tips, leaving the tips cut at exactly right angles to the axis of the reed. The power lever, blade arm and reed holder are now returned to the full line position of Fig. 4 and the reed removed from the holder, following which the cutter block 41 is moved rearwardly into the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3., the holder and arm swung down wardly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 for example, and the lever brought down into contact with the frame, the catch 45 automatically fastening the lever down.

Inasmuch as the tips 22 and 23 of the reed taper, it is obvious that the trimming of their frayed ends will leave the tips more blunt than they were originally. For convenience in scraping down the outer surfaces of the tips to the required thickness one or more knife blades 46 are pivoted upon the rivet 15, and with the lever 42 in closed position the whole apparatus is only slightly larger than the ordinary knife handle and may be easily grasped by the operator as a handle for the knife blades 46.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious that one skilled in the art may make modifications thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention. I wish, therefore, not to be restricted to the precise embodiment shown, except in so far as the same is limited in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a cutter the combination with a frame of a carriage mounted therein, means for adjusting said carriage longitudinally of the frame, a resilient reed holder comprising a single spring pivoted to one end of the carriage, and a clip positioned at the opposite end of the carriage and formed to engage a reed on the holder to aline said reed with the holder and frame.

2. In a cutter the combination with a frame of a carriage adjustably -mountcd therein for movement longitudinally of the frame, a resilient reed holder pivoted to the rear end of said carriage on an axis at right angles to the direction of movement of the carriage, and a clip having opposed tines positioned at the opposite end of the carriage, said tines being equidistant from and on opposite sides of the plane of rotation of the holder.

8. In a cutter the combination with a frame of a reed carriage adjustable longitudinally of the frame, means upon the carriage for holding a reed and alining the same with respect to the frame, and a cutter block mounted upon the frame and adjustable in the same direction as said carriage.

4. In a cutter the combination with a frame having a longitudinal slot near its rear end, of alined spaced bearings upstanding from the frame at the rear end of said slot, a reed carriage slidably mounted in the slot, a post upstanding at the rear end of said carriage, a threaded rod protruding rearwardly from said post and slidably engaging the said bearings, a nut threaded upon the rod and fitting the space between said bearings, and a resilient reed holder pivoted upon said post on an axis at right angles to the direction of movement of said carriage.

5. In a cutter the combination with a frame having a longitudinal slot near its rear end, of alined spaced bearings upstanding from the frame at the rear end of said slot, a reed carriage slidablymounted in the slot, a post upstanding at the rear end of said carriage, a threaded rod protruding rearwardly from said post and slidably engaging the said bearings, a nut threaded upon the rod and fitting the space between said bearings, a resilient reed holder pivoted upon said post on an axis at right angles to the direction of movement of said carriage, and a clip at the forward end of the carriage which cooperates with said holder to position the reed with its axis parallel to the line of movement of the carriage.

G. In a cutter the combination with a frame having a guideway of a reed carriage slidablv mounted in said guideway, a rod protruding rearwardly from said carriage and engaging a bearing provided on the frame, a projection extending forwardly of the forward end of the carriage, and a finger overlapping said projection and secured to the frame.

7. In a cutter the combination with a frame of a reed carriage mounted for movement longitudinally of the frame, a blade arm pivotally secured to the frame on an axis at right angles to the direction of movement of said carriage, a blade carried by said arm and having its cutting edge parallel to the pivotal axis of said arm, and means upon said carriage mounted to swing in the plane of movement of the blade arm for positioning a reed with its axis at right angles to the edge of said blade.

8. In a cutter the combination with a frame having a central pivot, of a blade arm mounted on said pivot, a blade having its cutting edge parallel to said pivot, a cutter bloc-k, adjustable reed positioning means, and a lever pivoted to the forward end of said frame and provided with cam surface for engagement with said arm.

9. In a cutter the combination with a frame of a central pivot in the frame, a blade arm mounted on said pivot, a blade on the arm having its edge parallel with the axis of said pivot, a cutter block, means for. positioning a reed with its axis at right angles to the edge of the blade, and a power lever pivoted to the frame and having a cam surface adapted to engage said arm.

10. In a cutter the combination with an elongated frame of a transverse pivot positioned intermediate the ends of said frame, a blade arm mounted upon said. pivot, blade secured to the arm at a' point remote from the pivot, a cutter block mounted on the frame and adjustable to a point beneath said blade, and a power lever pivoted to the frame adjacent said block and having a cam surface adapted to engage said arm at a 100 point adjacent the blade.

11. In a cutter the combination with a frame of a blade pivotally carried thereby, a cutter block positioned beneath the blade, means for holding a reed with one end upon 105 the cutter block and its axis at right angles to the edge of the blade, and a lever pivoted to the frame and movable into contact with the blade to force the blade against the out ter block.

12. In a cutter the combination with a frame of a blade arm pivoted thereto, a cutter block disposed beneath the free end of said arm, a blade carried at the free end of the arm, a spring clamp also carried at the 115 free end of the arm and having its free end positioned adjacent the blade normally below the same and rearwardly thereof, a reed carriage mounted in the frame for adjustment in a direction at right angles to the 120 edge of said blade, and rearwardly of the blade, and means upon said carriage for holding a reed and positioning the same with its axis at right angles to the edge of said blade.

13. In a cutter the combination with a frame of a blade arm pivoted thereto, a cutter block disposed beneath the free end of said arm, a blade carried at the free end of the arm, a spring clamp also carried at 1 0 the free end of the arm and having its free end positioned adjacent the blade normally below the same and rearwardly thereof, a reed carriage mounted in the frame for adjustment in a direction at right angles to the edge of said blade and rearwardly of the blade, means upon said carriage for holding a reed and positioning the same with its axis at right angles to the edge of said blade, and a power lever having a cam surface adapted to engage the blade arm and having its fulcrum in the frame at a point adjacent said cam surface.

lat. In a cutter the combination with an elongated frame of a cutter block slidably positioned thereon, a blade arm pivoted to said frame, a blade carried by said arm, said cutter block being movable from a position beneath the blade to a position remote from the same, adjustable reed holding means mounted on the frame and comprising a knurled nut, a power lever pivoted to the frame and adapted to contact with said arm to actuate the blade and formed with a hollow rearward end, and a spring clip mounted in said hollow rearward end and adapted to snap about said nut.

15. In a cutter the combination with a frame of a cutter block mounted thereon and protruding above the upper surface thereof, a blade arm pivoted to the frame and protruding above the upper surface thereof, said block being slidable with respect to the blade arm, a reed carriage mounted in the frame and protruding above the upper surface thereof, adjusting means for said carriage including a knurled nut protruding above the upper surface of the frame, a lever pivoted to the frame, extending above the upper surface thereof, cut away to overlie said arm and hollowed out at its rearward end to form a cover for said carriage and nut, and a spring clip mounted in said hollow rearward end of the lever and positioned to snap over said nut to hold the lever against the frame.

In testimony wereof I have affixed my signature.

KARL STIEGELh IAYER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (1.

VII 

